It is 1969; Tony Adamowicz has won the Formula 5000 Championship in his Gurney Eagle. Fast forward nearly 40 years. Tony and his Eagle re-unite, it happens at Willow Springs Raceway; the same place that he first drove an Eagle. The story goes like this…..

I picked Tony up Memorial Day afternoon ( how apropos for a guy who used to work at the White House)  and we headed to Willow Springs Raceway. On the way we talked about what is was like 40 years ago. Names like Posey, Scooter Patrick, Davey Jordon, Jerry Grant and a host of others were just one topic of discussion. A big off at the exit of turn six, virtually destroying a similar car 40 years ago- another. Decades are being relived by Tony and I am glued to every word. We drive through Angeles Forest on the way; it is my favorite way of getting there. I am sitting next to a guy who has been one of my hero’s since the age of ten. We pull into the Inn of Lancaster. (All good racers stay there and have for years) Tony’s gal, Charlene, has packed dinner; pasta, Italian sausage a bottle of vino; all delicious….more stories. Damn, it just does not get much better- but it does!

Early in the morning we head towards the track but for a must stop at Crazy Otto’s for breakfast. You have got to have breakfast there!

The morning is perfect, cool and sunny. The truck arrives. Doug Magnon (the generous owner of Tony’s, now restored championship winning car), Bill Losee the crew chief and Morris Jephcott have brought the car from the Riverside International Automotive Museum. Morris is, of course, French! Sorry Morris…I just had to.

The team rolls the car from its trailer and my mouth just about hits tarmac. The car is beautiful and looks remarkably- new; a great deal of time, effort and money have gone into a very proper restoration of a 40 year old race car. Knife in hand, I am willing to sacrifice the left one for a chance to drive it. I think better of it, realizing that it really would not be much of a bargaining chip anyhow. I am however, offered the opportunity to get in- cool and I still have both’em.

As the team preps the car, Tony gets suited up and squeezes himself into the office. It has been 40 years! Hell, I barley fit, and I am a whole lot shorter than Tony. You don’t get in this car, one wears it.

The battery is connected, fluids checked, wheels tightened, fittings secured and then….music! The obviously well built small block Chevy explodes into life. The car weighs about 1500 pounds and the engine produces just north of 600 hp! The crew pushes the car back from the garage and Tony is on his way for the first of five test sessions.

The first session is a bit short; Tony can’t hear the radio over the engine noise. I do notice that he is breathing a bit hard, it has been a while and this is one monster of a race car. Tony relays to the team that the car is a bit “darty” under hard braking and Bill makes adjustments to the front suspension.

The second session goes well. Tony clicks off a 1:27.6; for those of you who have been to Willow, that is hauling the mail and it is only the second session. Tire temps are a bit high and re-adjusted. Gearing is a bit off, but will be just about perfect for Sears Point next weekend.

The third session goes even better. Tony clicks off a 1:26. 13, holly smokes that’s fast. Tony is feeling far more comfortable with the car, though he tells Bill that the car is under-steering at the top of the hill in turn 4. Bill makes a tow-in adjustment to the front suspension and again makes small tire pressure adjustments.

Session four starts off with a 1:26.2 and the car looks great on the track. Tire temps are still just a bit too high and Bill reduces the left front tire pressure by 1 lb and the left rear by ½ lb; Bill makes a sway bar adjustment as well.  

Session 5 unfortunately brings the day to an end. The ring and pinion give up the ghost and the day is over. Tony does tell the team that the handling on the car was better after the sway bar adjustment; all good information.

As an observer, I am of the opinion that the day went remarkably well. The team gained valuable information, Tony was “at home” in a very short period of time and gained confidence with the car. Hats off to the team for a job well done! We wish them well as they are leaving tomorrow for Sears Point (sorry, it will always be “Sears” to me) and their first race of this season; have fun guys!  They will also run the car at Elkhart Lake and Watkins Glen later this year.

It was great meeting new friends, even the French guy and I would like to thank Doug, Bill and Morris for having me along. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to Tony. Tony, you are a good friend, THANK YOU!

Oh, and Doug…..thanks for lunch!

Klaus

O.C.C.E.